PS 3531 .fl385 S6 ,1913 Copy 1 THE SPIRIT OF WOMAN IN BOHEMIA THE SPIRIT OF WOMAN IN BOHEMIA BY KATE B. PALMER PRIVATELY PRINTED SAN FRANCISCO 1913 7^ 3iSl E^St^ Copyright, 1913 by A. M. Robertson \\^ Philopolis Press San F'rancisco ©C',A362C25 FOREST SCENE. SCENE I. Curtain disclosing forest in purple twilight. Introducing music, — Ug motif. Enter Forest Voice; — Robed in green gauzy drapes veiled by wood- colored chiffon variegated, a light green chiffon drape falling from head over shoulders, held on head by wreath of redwood sprays; hair flowing, white sandalled feet, an owl in her left hand. Throughout the short play she does the reciting which introduces the acts. Forest Voice. The great trees listen for the song Of wondrous themes, When stars and twilight weave repose And Nature dreams; No chirp of bird among their boughs Cathedral spires; Descending rose-shafts wreathe the hour When day expires. Forest Voice remains on stage through the play. Music in variations of Ug, suited to forest. THE SPIRIT OF WOMAN IN BOHEMIA Forest Voice. Oft comes the sensuous wooing of a wind Athrill the forest wakens to its kiss, Impassioned, strains its branches to embrace The wanton leaves it in expectant bliss. Wind music, — ^Ug motif. Forest Voice. Sweet as the summer fragrance of a rose, Young Night descends, her dark form lightly clad, A jewelled crescent on her peerless brow A senseful languor in her movements glad. Music of Ug, one bar, then music introducing Night, who dances the dance of Night. Night is garbed in short black skirt, very full above ankles, of accordion-pleated chiffon, draped with jewelled black veil, a crescent on her forehead, a single star on back of each wrist to which another veil is attached, black sandals. After her dance, she retires to back of stage, taking a graceful, easy position. Soft music accompanying Forest Voice through each of her stanzas.' THE SPIRIT OF WOMAN IN BOHEMIA Forest Voice. Forgot the moan and passion of the wind, E'en as the pain that living things must know, Full starved for sleep, the wood-clan yield their all Of dew-pressed fragrance, 'neath her feet of snow. Violin introducing Nightingale. Nightin- gale dance. Dancer in soft shades of violet chiffon, draped on arms to suggest wings. Nightingale goes back, making a picture with Night. End of First Part. THE SPIRIT OF WOMAN IN BOHEMIA PART II. SCENE II. Musical Introduction. Few bars. Forest Voice. The spires in moonlit glory upwards point, Eternal Vigilants thro' centuries past; Each day they wait the coming of their queen, Then yield her sadly at King Phoebus' blast. Oft a sweet vision, reared among the gods Comes woman-like, in spite of warnings given. Longing to know the mysteries of earth, Material things that had no source in Heaven. Enter Spirit of Woman. Sinking in com- manding, masterful style. Spirit of Woman. Thou Ug, gra^ven image of fear. Back, back to the Shades, disappear! Thou Bacchus, with hoofed, shaggy crew. Go forth through the trees, starred with dew! Silenus, with spice of thy drink Woo dryads to Lethean brink; Ho, Zephyr, lead on as they trip. In cool, pearly fountains to sip! She has chared the j or est of its wmU occupants. Interlude of a measiire, then in softer mood continues: 6- THE SPIRIT OF WOMAN IN BOHEMIA Alone in the forest am I Above me the hooting owls cry; I came on the edge of a cloud, The gods in deep sorrow were bowed; They swore that Bohemia must weep, If I, in this forest, should sleep. Two bars of music. Style changing to more reckless mood. Brave Spirit of Woman, — I laugh At their fears and their oaths, — foolish chaff! Mayhap in this grove, old forsooth. Mother Eve strayed with Adam in youth: In reckless defiance of law I stand in this temple — no awe Of man or his high-priests I feel. But soft to their senses would steal And woo them to welcome my mood As comrade in this sheltered wood. This mankind, who fear, yet do love, And claim this Olympian grove Have left their grey fire-embers low; I'll stir them to cardinal glow; — {Stirs fire) And to yon banked verdure will creep In soft, perfumed silence, to sleep, Revealing in dreams woman's right. To spellbound Bohemia to-night. Curtain as she reclines on hank. Soft music. THE SPIRIT OF WOMAN IN BOHEMIA SCENE III. Forest Voice. Fair, quiet spirits dwelt within these woods, Their cloud- veil lifted and they soared above, Their mem'ries in the Forest Wind is borne. These sleepers of the early forest love. Enter Wind of the Forest, or Forest Wind. Interlude of Storm music. Sings "Song of Sleeper s^^ written for her by John Vance Cheney. Forest Voice. When storms rage wild and shattered monarch falls. And thick-robed branches hide Heaven's angry eye, With heart-beats hushed and timid falt'ring step. We mourn the wrath that chastened, — My Heart and I. Forest Wind sings "My Heart and /" written also by John Vance Cheney. Costume, old rose chiffon, lighter shade of veil, sandals, hair fl^owing, old rose veil caught on head, floating to hem of gown, golden lyre. Music accompaniment to Forest Voice, more stirring. 8* THE SPIRIT OF WOMAN IN BOHEMIA SCENE IV. Forest Voice. Oft Cometh strange wild creatures to our shades, They fill the sylvan calm with ribald sound, They chant till blush the virgin sward to hear, And in mad revel toss their limbs around. Music changes to lively as women from all parts of world enter. Bars of Russian Bride dance. Russia, in gorgeous costume dances — goes to rear. Spain enters in Spanish costumx with guitar and sings Spanish song; goes to rear. African, in gorgeous cake-walk gown enters and sings coon song; goes to rear. Scotland enters in full Scotch costume^ sings; goes to rear. Suffragette enters, man's silk hat, tuxedo evening shirt and black cloth skirt, carrying a banner, ^' Votes for Woman' \ does a turn on stage; goes to rear. America in costume of red, white and blue spangled chijfon enters and does two measures of Yankee Doodle dance. Indian maid in Indian costume with bow and arrow does Indian dance then goes to wings and brings in Egypt. 9 THE SPIRIT OF WOMAN IN BOHEMIA Egypt in heavy beaded net gown all bejewelled and crowned does a Veil dance. They form a tableau in rear of stage, where Spirit of Woman lies asleep on bank. Enter Modern Woman, dragging by hand a Forest Youth, apparently shy, but very handsome. Woman gowned like Nell Brinck- ley, muchly bejewelled, blonde head, mass of curls and puffs. Gown of white chiffon, em- broidered in light blue, very decollete, one red rose at corsage, very high-heeled red slippers, slit skirt, revealing diamond anklet over slipper. Youth in Robin Hood style of garment. Modern Woman sings in very frightened, ap- pealing manner, still holding youth by hand: Modern Woman. When the woodland sleeps and the star-bells rmg, Thou Ug, keep a watch over me ! For the moonbeams lure till the pulses sing, O Ug, keep a watch over me ! The dove of peace in my woman soul Is fretting to find a newer goal. We seek for change as the seasons roll, O Ug, keep a watch over me! I found this Youth in the glade alone, O Ug, keep a watch over me! icr THE SPIRIT OF WOMAN IN BOHEMIA And his tender heart-sigh stirred my own, Thou Ug, keep a watch over me! He is that creature called a man Whom at a distance we should scan, On close acquaintance there's a ban — O Ug, keep a watch over me. Youth, seeing so many women^ makes love to each, hut is particularly attentive to charming America. Seeing this Modern Woman sings next verse: Modern Woman. Ye Gods, now the mischief has begun, O Ug, keep a watch over me! That heart-sigh stunt he is winning on, Ihou Ug, keep a watch over me! What madness now dares the creature do? He is going the round of the woman world thro' And it's Ug, Ug, Ug, you're a ''Bunny" too. But you needn't keep watch over me. Stately song leads up to syncopated time in Chorus J ivhich Modern Woman sings first time alone, and second with entire cast. Modern Wod^ian (and Chorus) For the rag goes on till the stars grow cold. And they'll ''Texas Tom" till the v/orld grows old, :\nd tango — tango, oh, the joy of it! Syncopatic, non-aesthetic, just you toy with it. II 1 xl THE SPIRIT OF WOMAN IN BOHEMIA Heaven-wise, roll your eyes, Sway and swing, mesmerize: Redwood trees, in the arms of the breeze Do the Bohemian Rag. {Repeat whole Company.) Siidden appearance of Cloud Maiden, in robes of blue and white, with swan's-down trimming and sandalled feet, who stands before the revelers and slowly raises her arms, with flashing eyes and sublime dignity, say- ing no word. The actors slowly and in awe steal away. Cloud Maiden approaches Spirit of Woman on bank, and arouses her. She speaks no word. Spirit of Woman, awakening in surprise, allows herself to be raised from bank by Cloud Maiden. Com- ing to the front, hand in hand, Spirit of Woman sings: Spirit of Woman. Alas, what grief is tugging at my heart! 'Twas but a dream, yet fain would I depart To woman's sphere, unsulHed let me rise, There men are gods, and love is paradise. This woman-world, created in my sleep Far in forgetfulness I'll bury deep; Methinks the gods were wise; this grove For man was dedicated. 12 THE SPIRIT OF WOMAN IN BOHEMIA Thither cloud-nymph, ere the moon Hides her gentle face from sight; Back where virtue, love and faith Form the plan of woman's right. Lead me, Nature's ever unchanged plan — Woman's noblest altar in the chastened heart of man. Exit Spirit of Woman, and Cloud Maiden. Curtain. 13 THE SPIRIT OF WOMAN IN BOHEMIA SCENE V. Back again to original musical accompaniment of Forest Voice. Forest Voice coming to front of stage for first time. Forest Voice. Bohemia, sleep ! Thy armored knights attend. The red deer slumbers in thy shelter cool, Thy sons have hied them to the marts of trade, Like lagging urchins, driven forth to school. When purple grapes have crowned the Autumn's course. To yield in turn to holly's crimson charm, And Spring next drops the daffodil to gleam 'Mid golden poppy in the new year's charm — Once more a Summer browns the velvet hills. The meadow-lark, — your herald — bids you come; No lagging step — one purpose — one accord, You seek again Bohemia, — idyll home; Where Art and Nature fill the soul's demand. And heart goes forth to heart at touch of hand; No care nor fear to mar each precious hour. Viva Bohemia! In thy matchless dower. Curtain, Finis. A PLAYLET WRITTEN AND STAGED BY KATE B. PALMER AT A DINNER GIVEN AT THEIR HOME BY HER HUSBAND TO SOME OF HIS BOHEMIAN FRIENDS ON THE ELEVENTH DAY OF SEPTEMBER NINETEEN HUNDRED AND THIRTEEN DEC 13 1913 LIBRARY OF CONGRESS ■HL 018 348 701 2 ♦